TASTE OF KILDARE HITS THE SPOT WITH CULINARY DELIGHTS AND VIBRANT ATMOSPHERE

TASTE OF KILDARE HITS THE SPOT WITH CULINARY DELIGHTS AND VIBRANT ATMOSPHERE

Dee Laffan (left) chatting with Linda Mulryan (2nd left), Aine Mangan, and Chef Derry Clarke, in Ballymore VIP suite at Naas Racecourse, Kildare. Pic: G Chaney

The Taste of Kildare Festival of Food & Drink returned with a triumphant celebration of food, culture, and community at Naas Racecourse from September 20th to 22nd. Brought to you by Into Kildare and supported by Ballymore and Kildare County Council’s Local Enterprise Office, the festival attracted thousands of attendees eager to experience the best of Kildare’s culinary scene, artisan craftsmanship, and lively entertainment.

The festival, which was created by Into Kildare, the Kildare Tourism Board, featured a

Final Countdown Begins for the Taste of Kildare Festival of Food & Drink at Naas Racecourse

Gareth Naughton, Head Chef of Neighbourhood, Naas

 Final Countdown Begins for the Taste of Kildare Festival of Food & Drink at Naas Racecourse

              

 

The Taste of Kildare Festival of Food & Drink, brought to you by Into Kildare and supported by Ballymore and Kildare County Council’s Local Enterprise Office, is just days away! From September 20th to 22nd, Naas Racecourse in Co. Kildare will come alive with a

EIR SET TO CONNECT TASTE OF KILDARE

 EIR SET TO CONNECT TASTE OF KILDARE

Rachel Allen

 

eir, Ireland’s leading telecommunications provider, is set to connect the Taste of Kildare Festival of Food & Drink and has been announced as the sponsor of the Talk Stage at this brilliant event which takes place from 20-22^nd of September at Naas Racecourse.

The Talk Stage, Powered by eir will be hosted by food writers, Dee Laffan and Ali Dunworth and will be the place to be at the festival to hear all the latest foodie news.

Taste of Kildare has been created by I

SECRETS FROM THE CALOR GAS CHEF’S THEATRE- DERRY CLARKE, EXECUTIVE HEAD CHEF AT THE CLUB AT GOFF’S

 PRESS RELEASE

SECRETS FROM THE CALOR GAS CHEF’S THEATRE
DERRY CLARKE, EXECUTIVE HEAD CHEF AT THE CLUB AT GOFF’S

 

With the countdown to the Taste of Kildare Festival of Food & Drink well underway we caught up with Derry Clarke, one of the well-known chefs who will share his chef’s secrets in the Calor Gas Chef’s Theatre at this year’s event.

 

Derry is one of 12 exciting chefs who will cook a

Calor Gas Theatre will provide lots of culinary excitement during the harvest season at Taste of Kildare.

 press release

Calor Gas Theatre will provide lots of culinary excitement during the harvest season at Taste of Kildare.

                                                      20-22nd OF SEPTEMBER AT NAAS RACECOURSE

Brian Fallon and Aine Mangan Into Kildare.

The 2024 Taste of Kildare Festival, set for September 20th to 22nd at Naas Racecourse, is gearing up to be a fantastic weekend of food, music and entertainment. The festival has been billed as Kildare’s biggest restaurant with the harvest season inspiring many of the dishes and seasonal produce on offer. This exciting culinary event has been created by Into Kildare, the County Kildare tourism board and is supported by Ballymore and Kildare County Council’s Local Enterprise Office who will also feature a rich tapestry of local food producers with over 100 different market stalls.

12 of Ireland’s top chefs will showcase their culinary prowess over the weekend and will hold various demonstrations in the Calor Gas Chefs' Theatre. Each chef brings their own unique culinary expertise and will create their signature dishes, offering a unique fusion of flavours and techniques. The star-studded lineup of chefs who will do talks and demonstrations over the weekend includes Rachel Allen, Derry Clarke, Gary O’Hanlon, Ross Lewis, Martin Shanahan, Natalie Collins, Jordan Bailey, Holly White, Mindi Keane, Duro Vdovic, Graham Herterich and Melissa McCabe. This interactive kitchen will offer festival goers a front-row seat to culinary expertise, displaying a unique fusion of flavours and cooking techniques.

Workshops and various talks will also take place over the weekend on the ‘Talk Stage, Powered by Eir’ – here the audience will get to enjoy all kind of workshops and have the chance to hear from some of the best producers, food photographers, tablescapers and culinary talents in the country. Eir also have an award up for grabs for the Best in Taste, that is the best dish or product at Taste of Kildare and that will be judged by an Eir representative together with an Into Kildare judge over the festival weekend.

Duro Vdovic Head Chef Fallon's of Kilcullen

Newbridge Silverware, which is famous for its Vintage Afternoon Tea has teamed up with baker, Graham Herterich who will prepare a special afternoon tea inspired by Newbridge Silverware’s ‘Silver Restaurant’.  The afternoon tea will be served on vintage delph, complemented by Newbridge Silverware’s famous cutlery and tableware which has been made on site at the Newbridge factory since 1934. Graham Herterich rose to fame as ‘The Cupcake Bloke’ many years ago and has grown a loyal customer base with his stunning baked treats. He now runs a highly successful bakery in Rialto and is a regular on television.  Aswell as created the vintage afternoon tea, Graham will be in the Calor Gas Chefs' Theatre on the Saturday of the festival and will host a fun, baking masterclass with kids on Sunday.

Brian Fallon of Fallon’s of Kilcullen who is a board member of Into Kildare and is also very involved in the organisation of the festival together with Avril Bannerton, Taste of Kildare Festival Director said, “Fallon’s of Kilcullen will have a Pig & Pints Experience on site in collaboration with Orchard Thieves Cider. Dermot Allen from Wine Tavern Farms regularly works with Fallon’s of Kilcullen during the year and has his own rare breed of pigs. He has been providing pigs on a spit for many happy wedding guests over the years at and he will be serving it up for visitors at Taste of Kildare this year. This succulent pork will be paired with the cool, apple cider from Orchard Thieves – it’s a match made in heaven and is the perfect taste of the harvest season.”

He continued, “Friday night of the festival celebrates the very best of autumn. The 5-course tasting dinner called ‘The Harvest Dining’, fine dining experience is already sold out, but we have lots going on for groups including the BBQ experience.  September is also ‘oyster season’ and we have amazing seafood from the Saltee Buoy, while an oyster bar by Oysam Oysters will be located right beside The Kildare Village Sip and Savour Champagne Bar.  Friday night will be a great night out for a group of friends or work colleagues and with live music by Smash Hits and Superfly and even line dancing the craic will be mighty!”

Saturday night features music by The Victory Dolls and the global sensation ‘Bingo Loco’ which has flipped the traditional game of bingo on its head and turned it into an interactive stage show, complete with dance-offs, rave rounds, lip sync battles, throwback anthems, confetti showers, and prizes. Taste of Kildare have also teamed up with Bacardí to provide a complimentary cocktail for each Saturday ticket holder. The Bord na Móna family fun day takes place on Sunday and features lots of family fun, face painting and baking master classes for children.

Jacqui McNabb, Head of Enterprise, Tourism and Economic Development at Kildare County Council, also highlighted the festival’s importance, "We are delighted to be a sponsor of Taste of Kildare, we will have over 100 different stalls, producers and artisans in attendance.  Supporting Taste of Kildare provides a significant platform for our local businesses to shine, offering festival-goers a taste of the exceptional creativity and passion that thrives in our culinary community.”

CEO of Into Kildare, Áine Mangan said, “As the festival prepares to open its gates, it is set to not only showcase the gastronomic delights of County Kildare but to also boost local tourism and hospitality, creating lasting memories for all who attend. Into Kildare is delighted to bring this festival to fruition and to support our members which include so many fabulous hotels, restaurants, cafes, gastro pubs and visitor attractions.”

Taste of Kildare 2024 is proudly presented by Into Kildare, sponsored by Ballymore and Kildare County Council’s Local Enterprise Office. Other sponsors include Kildare County Council, Calor Gas, Culinary Food Group, Bord na Móna, Newbridge Silverware, Square, Fitzpatrick’s Mercedes Benz, Kildare Village, Eir and Sysco. 

Tickets are now on sale at www.tasteofkildare.ie/tickets and are priced from €15 for general admission. A bundle ticket priced from €32 per person offers great value and includes admission, two signature dishes from any of the participating restaurants for one session on any one day over the weekend. Pre booking is essential for the bundle tickets. Group, VIP and corporate bookings are available with great offers in place for the BBQ session on Friday night.

The full schedule of events can be seen on www.tasteofkildare.ie which is regularly updated as new restaurants and chefs are announced. Follow @tasteofkildare to keep updated on event news and highlights.   Car parking on site is free and a shuttle service will be available from Naas town centre.  *All tickets are subject to booking fees.

 

Artisan producers, cultural and visitor attractions provide the perfect blend at Taste of Kildare

press release 

THE MAKERS AND THE SHAKERS

Artisan producers, cultural and visitor attractions provide the perfect blend at Taste of Kildare

Rachel Allen 

 

The 2024 Taste of Kildare Festival, set for

Celebrate Global Flavours at the Taste of Kildare Festival 2024

press release 

Celebrate Global Flavours at the Taste of Kildare Festival 2024

Derry Clarke, Natalie Collins, and Pippa Clancy, all set to go!

 

This September, food lovers are invited to indulge in a culinary celebration like no other at the 2024 Taste of Kildare Festival. Set against the scenic backdrop of Naas Racecourse from the 20th to the 22nd of September, this year's festival is brought to you by Into Kildare, the tourism board for County Kildare, and is supported by Ballymore. The festival, now in its third year, promises

Into Kildare and Newbridge Silverware Host Members Event to Showcase Kildare’s Premier Tourism Offerings

press release 

Into Kildare and Newbridge Silverware Host Members Event to Showcase Kildare’s Premier Tourism Offerings

Aine Mangan, CEO Into Kildare and Ronan Mackey, Newbridge Silverware

Into Kildare, the official tourism body for County Kildare, recently welcomed (2^nd July) 40 members to a collaborative event and lunch held at Newbridge Silverware. The event highlighted the attractions and accommodations that Kildare has to offer visitors to the county, while also providing a

TASTE OF KILDARE IS BACK! RACHEL ALLEN TO COOK UP A STORM

TASTE OF KILDARE IS BACK!

RACHEL ALLEN TO COOK UP A STORM AT TASTE OF KILDARE-24-25^th SEP
CELEBRITY CHEFS, TOP FOOD PRODUCERS AND GREAT FOOD

AT THE CURRAGH RACECOURSE

Taste of Kildare is back, with ‘in person’, live cookery demonstrations, great food tasting experiences, music and more celebrity chefs and culinary personalities than you can shake a wooden spoon at!  World renowned chef, television personality, presenter and author, Rachel Allen is one of the big names who will be cooking up a storm at Taste of Kildare this year. The culinary festival, which is owned and run by Into Kildare, the tourism body for County Kildare will be held at the Curragh Racecourse during the Autumn Festival of Racing (24-25^th September).  The Curragh will be transformed into a foodie heaven with racegoers being offered the opportunity to taste some of the county’s best food. 

Into Kildare, the promoters of the festival have invited an eclectic mix of well- known Kildare chefs, restaurants, food producers and artisan food innovators to showcase their produce.  Mickael Viljanen (right) of Chapter One Restaurant will be doing live demonstrations in the demo kitchen along with a host of renowned chefs. Over 40 food suppliers, restaurants and food trucks will be in attendance and will offer the public the chance to sample their food and to buy artisan, locally made produce.

The first day of Taste of Kildare, Saturday 24^th of September will run on the same day as the prestigious Goffs Millions, Europe’s richest race for two-year-olds. It will be themed ‘Born and Bred in Kildare’ and will feature food stands and food trucks who will showcase the best locally produced products. 

Just some of the food and hospitality outlets who will be at Taste of Kildare include; The Kildare House Hotel, Scon, The Clanard Court Hotel, Harte’s of Kildare, Firecastle, Domo’s Emporium and The Auld Shebeen Gastro Bar.  Food trucks and mobile food outlets include Gingers Event Catering, Saba Kildare, Nolan’s of Kilcullen and The Osprey Hotel food truck.

For an unsurpassed culinary experience, diners can feast on a seven-course Taste of Kildare menu in the Leger Restaurant where they will enjoy stunning panoramic views of the finish line and the renowned Curragh Plains. Each course features a signature dish from one of Kildare’s restaurants to ensure you really and truly experience a Taste of Kildare. Participating restaurants involved in the seven-course tasting menu include Firecastle, Killashee Hotel, Barberstown Castle, Glenroyal, Hotel, The K Club, Carton House, Fallon & Byrne, Las Radas, Harte’s of Kildare and Two Cooks.

Barry Liscombe, Firecastle

Áine Mangan (CEO, Into Kildare) said, “We are looking forward to the return of the Taste of Kildare as a live event this year. After two years of various lockdowns and restrictions it’s wonderful for people to have the chance to gather again and to enjoy delicious food and drink. Into Kildare is delighted to support local food and hospitality outlets by staging and promoting this event which aligns with our Thoroughbred County Tourism Strategy. The event will offer local restaurants, hotels, and food producers a great opportunity to showcase their products and services to a large audience and will offer them a chance to promote their brand to an engaged clientele.” 

As well as great food, Taste of Kildare will also feature exciting racing, family entertainment with Junior Einstein’s Kildare and live music by ‘Nite Train’ who will play after racing.

Early Bird tickets are on sale now from €15 per person this includes entry into the Curragh Races. Tickets for the Leger Tasting Experience cost from €175 per person and includes seven courses, wine, entry to the races and a premier experience in the stunning Leger Restaurant.

Purchase your tickets for the ultimate racing and culinary experience today! For more information and to purchase tickets see www.tasteofkildare.ie

press release

  

MOUTHWATERING NEWS FROM "INTO KILDARE" AS TASTE OF KILDARE LAUNCHES

press release 

MOUTHWATERING NEWS FROM INTO KILDARE

Paul Lenehan, (President, Restaurant Association of Ireland and Kildare Restauranteur), Brian Fallon, (Director Into Kildare), Barry Liscombe (Chef at Firecastle), David Mongey (Chairman Into Kildare), Evan Arkwright (The Curragh Racecourse), Áine Mangan (CEO, Into Kildare) and Jacqui McNabb (Local Enterprise Office Kildare) at the launch of Taste of Kildare.

TASTE OF KILDARE LAUNCHES

Into Kildare, the tourism body for County Kildare, has just launched ‘Taste of Kildare’ which will be held at the Curragh Racecourse during the Autumn Festival of Racing (24-25^th September).  The home of the classics, The Curragh will be transformed into a foodie heaven with racegoers being offered the opportunity to taste some of the county’s best food.  Taste of Kildare will be run by Into Kildare who have invited an eclectic mix of well- known Kildare chefs, restaurants, food producers and artisan food innovators to showcase their produce.

The two-day event which was launched yesterday(19^th of July) will allow racegoers the chance to sample delectable dishes from restaurants and hospitality outlets including, Killashee Hotel, Barberstown Castle, Fallon’s of Kilcullen and Harte’s of Kildare among many more. 

The first day of Taste of Kildare, Saturday 24^th of September will run on the same day as the prestigious Goffs Millions, Europe’s richest race for two-year-olds. It will be themed ‘Born and Bred in Kildare’ and will feature food stands and food trucks who will showcase the best locally produced products.  Racegoers will have the chance to sample and purchase artisan products while also having the opportunity to taste signature dishes prepared by Kildare’s best known food outlets.

Day 2 of the festival will run on The Friends of the Curragh Irish Cesarewitch race day, Sunday, 25^th of September.  A unique opportunity awaits racegoers and food lovers as the premier Leger Suite will set the scene for a magnificent culinary experience.  Guests can enjoy a truly memorable lunch as seven of Co. Kildare’s best known and loved restaurants will prepare a 7-course tasting menu.  Each of the dishes will reflect the personality and style of the food outlet and will offer guests the chance to sample dishes created by multi award winning chefs. Located on the 3^rd floor of the iconic Aga Khan Grandstand, The Leger Suite enjoys superb views of the parade ring, finish line and panoramic views across the Curragh track and famous Curragh plains. 

Áine Mangan (CEO, Into Kildare) said, “We are much looking forward to the return of the Taste of Kildare as a live event this year. After two years of various lockdowns and restrictions it’s wonderful for people to have the chance to gather again and to enjoy delicious food and drink. Into Kildare is delighted to support local food and hospitality outlets by staging and promoting this event which aligns with our Thoroughbred County Tourism Destination plans. 37% of the overall visitor spend in Ireland is on food and drink and we are very lucky in this county to have so many great restaurants and hospitality providers for both our domestic and international visitors to enjoy.  Kildare has multiple award-winning restaurants, various microbreweries, several cookery schools, traditional cheese makers, elegant cocktail bars, lively traditional pubs, and some of the best gastro pubs in the country.  The event will offer local restaurants, hotels, and food producers a great opportunity to showcase their products and services to a large audience and will offer them a chance to promote their brand to an engaged clientele.” 

Taste of Kildare is being sponsored by the Kildare Local Enterprise Office (LEO) who are a big supporter of the food and drink industry in County Kildare. Jacqui McNabb, Head of Enterprise, LEO, Kildare County Council said, “Kildare County Council’s Local Enterprise Office are delighted to support Taste of Kildare 2022.  Through our Flavours of Kildare Network, we are very focused on helping small and medium sized food businesses to reach their full potential. Taste of Kildare is firmly aligned with our Kildare 2025 Economic Development strategy to support, promote, mentor, and assist food businesses and producers to reach their goals and grow their business.  We wish the team at Into Kildare the very best in their preparations and congratulate them on this great initiative which will be a great way in which to promote Co. Kildare’s great food heritage.”

Brian Kavanagh, CEO of the Curragh Racecourse said, “Taste of Kildare will be a wonderful addition to our Autumn Festival of Racing.  Racegoers will have the chance to see some of the world’s best thoroughbreds in action on the track while also having the opportunity to sample some of the best cuisine in the county. The weekend features two premier race days The Goffs Million taking place on Day 1 and the Friends of the Curragh Irish Cesarewitch as the feature on Day 2, the most valuable race over two miles in Europe. We look forward to welcoming everyone to what promises to be an unmissable weekend in Kildare of great racing, fun and delicious food.”

 

Tickets for Taste of Kildare are priced from €15 and include race day entry (children under 18 are free, accompanied by an adult).  Tickets for the Ultimate Taste of Kildare Experience in the Leger Restaurant will launch soon.  For more information and to buy tickets see www.tasteofkildare.ie  If you are a food producer, hotel or restaurant and want to take part in Taste of Kildare please email info@intokildare.ie